Metabolic risk factor-profile in patients on treatment with second generation antipsychotics.

The second generation antipsychotic agents, although exhibit superior safety profile, is associated with metabolic adverse effects including weight gain, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia. These adverse effects are not only the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus but may also impair patient's adherence to treatment. However, different member of second generation antipsychotics differ. in their extent of metabolic adverse effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between olanzapine, risperidone or quetiapine treatment and body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia in patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Forty-four cases of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder diagnosed with DSM-IV criteria were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Body weight, body mass index and blood pressure were measured at baseline, at the end of 4th, 8th and 12th weeks of treatment. Blood samples were collected to measure blood glucose and serum lipid profile at baseline and at the end of 4th, 8th and 12th weeks in the study group receiving treatment (olanzapine 20-30 mg/day, risperidone 4-16 mg/day and quetiapine 300-800 mg/day) after overnight fasting. Therapeutic use of olanzapine and risperidone in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder for a period of 4th, 8th and 12th weeks was associated with significant increase in body weight and body mass index. Quetiapine did not cause significant changes in body weight and body mass index after 4 and 8 weeks. However, after 12 weeks treatment, body mass index increased significantly. Olanzapine, risperidone and quetiapine increased the blood glucose level significantly after 8 and 12 weeks treatment. Olanzapine and risperidone elevated the serum cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein levels significantly after 4, 8 and 12 weeks. But quetiapine showed no significant change in lipid profile. However, olanzapine and risperidone significantly increased triglyceride level after 8 and 12 weeks. Amongst three drugs, quetiapine treatment increased high density lipoprotein level. Our study revealed that quetiapine treatment is associated with less risk of dyslipidaemia.

Somatoform disorders in children and adolescents.

Somatization is common among children and adolescents. A consecutive series of 112 children and adolescents who fulfilled the ICD-10 clinical diagnostic criteria for somatoform disorders attended at a psychiatric consultation center were included in this study to delineate the pattern of presenting features and to find out associated abnormal psychosocial situations and disabilities. Out of 112 cases 52 were boys, 60 girls, of them 59 were children and 53 adolescents. Polysymptomatic presentation was commoner (92%) than monosymptomatic presentation (8%). Pain was the most prevalent symptom. Children showed significantly higher rates of abdominal complaints and adolescents showed higher rates of headaches. All cases reported an average of 14.21 somatic symptoms. Boys and girls reported an average of 13.75 and 14.61 somatic symptoms respectively and this difference between two groups was not significant. Whereas children reported an average of 12.66 somatic symptoms and adolescents reported an average of 15.94 somatic symptoms. The difference was significant. Differences were also found in the diagnostic categories of somatoform disorders. Girls reported higher rates of somatization disorder and persistent somatoform pain disorder than that of boys. Children reported higher rates of undifferentiated somatoform disorder and somatoform autonomic dysfunction. In contrast, adolescents reported higher rates of somatization disorder. Abnormal psychosocial situations were found to be associated with predisposition, onset, and course of the disorders in majority of the cases and most common was parental overprotection. Remarkable social impairments particularly, in the domains of academic and peer relationship were found among the cases. Findings suggest that somatoform disorders in children and adolescents are frequent in clinical practice. Better understanding of these disorders can promote early diagnoses and timely treatments and improve the quality of life by preventing negative consequences.